Monday, September 15, 2025 - A Consultant at the ‘Zero Malaria Project’, Dr. Nduku Maxwell, has revealed that Nigeria accounts for about 27 per cent of the world’s malaria burden, resulting in over 200 deaths per day.
Maxwell, speaking in Sagbama, Bayelsa State, at an ongoing
Zero Malaria Project sponsored by the Minnesota, USA-based Rotary club of Maple
Grove in collaboration with its counterparts, Rotary Club of Yenagoa Towers and
Sagbama Primary Healthcare, said the statistics make Nigeria the country with
highest malaria prevalence globally.
While insisting that malaria is preventable through the use
of insecticide-treated nets, he said initiatives like the Zero Malaria Project
are crucial in assisting government health institutions in eradicating this
disease from Nigeria.
According to Thisday, over 15,000 residents from 15
communities in rural communities in the state have so far benefited from the
project initiated by the Rotary Club.
According to the Project Director and Assistant Governor of
Rotary District 5059, USA, Jennifer Borel, this year-long project includes free
malaria testing and treatment, the distribution of insecticide-treated nets,
blood pressure test, blood sugar test and free medicated eyeglasses provided by
health professionals.
She said the project emphasises prevention over treatment to
eradicate the malaria scourge.
She said: “Rotary International has seven focus areas, one
of which is disease prevention and treatment. Bayelsa state was selected for
the project in the Niger Delta area because it is highly characterised by high
water table and low land that is susceptible to water logging during floods
with resultant increase in breeding of mosquitoes.
“These communities experience a high prevalence of malaria.
It’s also a hard-to-reach area, so I took on the responsibility to bring the
project here to help save lives from this deadly disease.
“A similar project was initiated in 2022 in Patani, Delta
State, where the number of infected individuals has drastically reduced, with
zero deaths recorded since then due to education and the level of awareness in
the communities. We decided to extend the project to Bayelsa State communities
in the riverine coastal areas of Nigeria.”
She expressed confidence in the programme’s success based on
the turnout so far, stating that trained community-based volunteers will
continue to reach out to remote areas to educate residents and provide them
with insecticide-treated nets and malaria medications.
Also speaking, the District Governor-elect of Rotary
District 9141, which encompasses Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Bayelsa States,
Anthony Olikagu, stressed that the Zero Malaria Project was more than just
treatment, but a vital initiative that prevents families from losing their
loved ones to the disease.
He stated: “Malaria deprives people of their joy, and I am
delighted that thousands of families will find joy through this project. We
must continue to thank Rotary International for introducing this global grant
project to our local communities. This area is waterlogged and prone to
mosquitoes, so this project will significantly contribute to eradicating the
disease.”
The Sagbama Local Government Chairperson, Alice Tangi,
represented by Vice Chairman, Jefferson Tobi, remarked that Rotary’s
intervention comes at a critical time for riverine communities that are most
affected by malaria during the rainy season.
She said: “This programme is one of its kind in Sagbama
Local Government Area, Bayelsa State and this is the period when malaria is
most prevalent here. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rotary International
for bringing this project to our communities. It will indeed help combat
malaria.”
His Royal Majesty King Boloyi Sufadoh, the Pere of Kumbowei
Kingdom, also expressed his appreciation for Rotary’s efforts and thanked the
organisation for extending the project to underserved areas in the state.
He stated: “I believe that the people of the 15 communities
in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State will benefit immensely. This
is a mobile initiative involving community-based volunteers, and stipends will
be provided for a year. I am confident that malaria will be eradicated upon its
completion.”
One of the beneficiaries of the net distribution outreach at
the local government headquarters, Victor Ebiado, also expressed his gratitude.
Other beneficiaries said the
awareness and treatment they got from the programme was second to none, as they
were not only taught how to prevent mosquito attacks but were given treatments
and preventive materials.
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